Audubon Zoo

[The Phantom of Paris]

Cassandra "Cassie" Wright

"Pleased to meet you, Cassie and Chloe," the boy--Golden--said with a nod. "So nice to meet someone who gets that shoots don't always bring out the best in the individual. I mean, do they really think we rush out to buy this stuff?! Well, I admit: I get to keep a couple of items. But I'm pretty good at mixing and matching though I'd rather have more money than~um~threads." Cassie gave a shrug and a little laugh, playing with the folds of her scarf. "My roommate makes a lot of the stuff we wear for photoshoots, so it's around the apartment anyway."

"So, Cassie..." Golden began before trailing off. Cassie followed his gaze up to Cecily and Grace, who were slowly returning back to their side. The girls carried identical orders--a frozen lemonade in one hand and a hot dog and fries in the other. Golden chuckled a bit before apologizing. "Sorry. I just thought of a family joke. I ride herd over my sisters' kids when I'm back home, and the girls reminded me of that. Don't worry. I'm not some moussed fiend who cackles to himself and... Oh wait! I might be!" There was another bout of laughter, but Cassie only smiled. "It's okay, really." She waved to Cecily and Grace, but they were too absorbed in their snacks and conversation to focus. "I've got a sister too. Well, obviously," she said, gesturing to Chloe, "But I've got a full sister as well. She's eighteen. How many sisters do you have?"

"So, you model, too?"

Cassie gave a shrug. "A little bit. Lilith--my roommate--and I worked out a deal where I model for her if she returns the favor and lets me draw her every once in a while." She gave another shrug and a bit of a sheepish smile. "I'm much more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it--or in this case, behind the sketchbook."

[mystmoonstruck]

Golden Hunt

The girl~Cassie~shrugged and did laugh at his generally inane chatter as she toyed with the scarf, one of those accessories just meant for fidgeters. "My roommate makes a lot of the stuff we wear for photoshoots, so it's around the apartment anyway."

"My mom and sisters are sewers~well~seamstresses," he said smiling from the memories, especially of being a reluctant model. All of those hours standing on a chair... Yep! It's no wonder he generally was much more understanding of females that many others of his gender.

At his familial references, she responded, "I've got a sister too. Well, obviously," she said as she motioned toward the girl Chloe. "But I've got a full sister as well. She's eighteen. How many sisters do you have?"

"Woah! That's a loaded question," he warned laughingly. "Are you ready for this?" Bracing himself, he ran through them: "From oldest to youngest: Amber, Byzantium ~ That's a shade of purple. ~ Crimson, Denim, Emerald and Fuchsia! Then, came Golden~me~and they decided they'd better quit! I used to tease my sisters that it took all of those tries before they got what they wanted. Ouch! Would they ever make me regret that!" It was a full-throated laugh this time, a tossing-the-head-back one. "Why did my parents pick colors? I don't know if they ever said. Bizzy used to fuss a little at her name till they asked her if she'd have liked to be Brown or Beige. She suggested Blue, but they said they would have saved that for a boy. Actually, Blue wouldn't be so bad for a girl, would it?" At that, he gave a shoulder waggle and a little bob of the head as if considering it. Then, he asked, "So, you model, too?"

Cassie shrugged. "A little bit. Lilith--my roommate--and I worked out a deal where I model for her if she returns the favor and lets me draw her every once in a while." Again came a shrug and a smile that, yes, would have been called sheepish. "I'm much more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it--or in this case, behind the sketchbook."

"'Lilith': That is a very cool name!" he commended. "I like shooting pictures, too," he admitted, "and sketching. Yes. It's a whole lot better than modeling. You've got that right. At least we prove that models are not vapid and self-centered, right? That really bugs me! I know I can be a goof at times, but I'm definitely no dummy." It was as serious as he had been since first speaking with her, his handsome face almost stony now, making him seem very different from the affable youth he generally seemed to be. "I'll bet you're the same, except redheads generally are given points for being witty and smart, aren't they? Blond guys don't get the bad rap that girls do," he admitted. After a moment's silence, he asked "What are your favorite subjects?"

OOC: I'm fairly certain there won't be a Cassie response, but I thought I'd write it just for the heck of it! BIC: